Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-01
STONE MADE FROM SAND.
A Visit 10 the Pcirce Patent Stone
Mandatory.

The latest industry introduced inSavan-
nah is the manufacture OF artificial stone.
One might suppose that there is enough
OF the natural article on this globe and
that there is no necessity for the manu-
facture Of any more. Nature, however,
wonderful as her workshop is, old not
turn out everything man wants. Ac-
cordingly he goes TO work, makes some
Improvement on her jobs and patents IL.
Now this Is just what has been done IN
the matter of artificial stone.
Down at the foot OF Williams street, on
the east bank OF the Ogeechee canal,
Is an artificial stone quarry where
paving and building material is taken out
every day. Everyone has recently no.
tlced scattered about over the city bits OF
sidewalk paved with eight-sided gray and
white blocks. Those blocks come from
the factory on the canal. Thousands
more OF them are piled up in the yard
there. Lying all around over the ground
are blocks of stone in various shades and
shapes. Some are key stones for arches,
with pretty floral design nodded on
the face. Other blocks are ornamental
window sils, belt courses, posts,
etc. The most of the stock Is ma
terial for the Episcopal Orphans Home
now being built on Liberty street. All
OF the rock-faced ashlsr for the building
is to be of the same material which 10
known as the PIERCE patent stone. The
gray and brown shades make beautiful
trimmings for building. The brown shade
Is scarcely distinguishes in appearance
frem Virginia brown stone, but the artl-
fetal article is much tirmer and more du-
rable than the natural. 1t stands the ex-
tremes better and Is not affected by the
weather or fire.
A shade OF gray is made
which is an excellent imitation of Ala
bama granite, and seems to be just as
we'll calculated to last. Other shades are
white and slate, One feature about 1t Is
that 1t gets harder and shows better
finish as it grows older. Some paving
blocks which were made when the works
were first started here are now white and
look like polished marble.
The stone is made from Savannah river
sand mixed with the finest Portland
cement and chemicals. While the mix
ture is soft 1t is taken by workmen ana
nodded into any shape desired.
The blocks can be made as handsome
and ornamental as the designer pleases.
Patterns have to be used just as In
foundry, and pattern makers are busy In
the shop all OF the time. Besides the Jobs
of paving for which the artificial stone
AoO OCCA lul AlouCu lhC vi phouo
Home, considerable work has been done
In the way OF furnishing curbing, posts
and walks for cemetery lots. The great
advantage about the manufactured stone
Is that IL not only locks as we'll and 10 as
good as cut stone, but is much cheaper
at least a hali-and often does not cost
more than one-third as much.
The stone is desirable for sidewalks,
corridors, Office floors, curbing, garden
walks, buildings, bridges, railroad Gull
verts, tire-proof vaults, chimney flues,
ornamental tops, etc. An order has been
given for enough Of it to build house. In
jacksonville there is a whole block of
stores and Offices built Of the Peirce pat
ent stone. 1t has been largely used
in Minneapolis and other cities
in the Northwest and West.
Mr.. Pierce has disposed OF the
right for several States, and stock COM
panies have just been organized at New
Orleans and Birmingham. A stock CON-
pany will also pc organized here in few
days and the capacity Of the works will
be increased.
A letter was shown by Mr.. Peirce to
representative of the MORNING NEWS
yesterday in which the writer stated that
a house made OF the patent stone was re-
Gently Quilted Oy fire. The walls, how
ever, were not affected and the house was
rebuilt without being repaired.